PEABODY — The results of the Torigian Family YMCA’s Out of School (OST) program healthy living drawing and essay contest are in.
Welch School first-grader Dante and South School second-grader Lily are the winners of the drawing contest, while South School fourth-grader Ella and Higgins Middle School sixth-grader Laila are the winners of the essay contest. (Last names were not provided to The Item due to privacy concerns).
The contest was a joint venture between the YMCA and Wicked Healthy Vending, a Peabody-based organization that provides nutritious snacks and beverages to local organizations, businesses and schools.
“Community has always been part of Wicked Healthy Vending’s mission,” said Tina Paine, the founder and owner. “Being a single mom when my daughter was young, having an after-school program available was essential to our family. Wicked Healthy Vending’s mission to support a healthy community matches perfectly with that of the YMCA’s.”
Winners received a Market Basket gift card that can be used for any program offered by the Torigian YMCA.
In addition to providing healthy snacks to Torigian YMCA members, Wicked Healthy Vending is working with the Y to further its mission of fostering a healthy community.
The contest offered children the opportunity to share their ideas on what healthy living means to them. Children in kindergarten through second grade were asked to submit drawings, while children in grades three, four and five were asked to submit a one- to two-page essay describing what healthy living means to them and to bring awareness to the importance of good nutrition to the children enrolled in the OST program.
“The YMCA’s mission is founded on the belief in promoting healthy living through spirit, mind, and body,” said OST Director and Camp Eastman Program Director Christopher Munnell. “We are so grateful to have Wicked Healthy Vending sponsor this amazing event.”
In addition to the contest winners, participants received a Wicked Healthy Vending backpack filled with healthy snacks.
“At Wicked Healthy Vending we are passionate about doing our part to create a healthy community,” said Paine. “We believe that when we are working, attending class or even playing, we should have the option of eating healthy. At Wicked Healthy Vending, it is our mission to offer snacks that are wicked good, wicked fast and wicked healthy.”
Munnell said the YMCA is grateful to have the support of organizations like Wicked Healthy Vending.
“We cannot succeed without the generosity of supporters like (Wicked Healthy Vending). From all the kids, staff, and I, we thank you for your generosity,” Munnell said.
